Device for adjusting the safety opening of magnetic attachments for ski



Dec. 3, 1968 G. P. .1. SALOMON 3,414,233

DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE SAFETY OPENING OF MAGNETIC ATTACHMENTS FOR SKI5 Sheet -Sheet 1 Filed June 20,

Fig:7

INVENTOR.

Dec. 3, 1968 G. P. J. SALOMON 3,414,283

DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE SAFETY OPENING OF MAGNETIC ATTACHMENTS FOR SKIFiled June 20, 1966 3 Sneets-Sneet WI I/ I I04 I07 I01 105 106 102 108 I\I v/ 122 I21 123 126 127 I28 I24 I26 I27 I25 I23 Dec. 3, 1968 G. P. J.SALOMON 3,414,283

DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE SAFETY OPENING OF MAGNETIC ATTACHMENTS FOR SKIFiled June 20, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Flg=16 a 1 19.17 Lb s FigrZO I NVENTOR.

United States Patent 4 Claims. oi. 28011.35)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A setting device for the safety opening of amagnetic attachment for ski in which the setting is obtained inmodifying the ratio between the stress on the ski boot and the pull ofthe magnetic element.

The instant invention relates to a device for the adjustment of thesafety opening of a magnetic attachment for ski.

Magnetic safety attachments for skis are known in which the adjustmentsthereof are obtained merely by changing the point of application of theforce of the magnet on a lever supporting it and receiving the abnormalthrust applied by the boot of the user.

This adjusting means, however, is rather uncertain and if the mechanismis housed in a casing, the latter must be removed. Also, the amount ofadjustment permitted is often small and the mass, weight and volume ofthe movable members of the device are notable.

The present invention proposes to overcome these disadvantages in asimple and efficient manner.

An object of the instant invention is to obtain an adjustment of thesafety opening of magnetic attachments for skis by variation of theratio existing between the thrust exerted by the boot and the magneticholding force, to permit obtaining the opening of the attachment forvarious values of the thrust exerted by the said boot, that is, morespecifically to cause variation in the torque necessary for thisopening.

To this end, the invention provides for various embodirnents allowingvariation of this torque which is obtained by changing the ratio ofapplication of the magnetic thrust, by a more or less important use ofthe magnetic flux of at least one magnet, by arrangement of mechanicalmeans the adjustable forces of which adding or subtracting from thestrength of this magnet, or still, by the combination of these means.

The invention will be best understood with reference to the appendeddrawing and the following description having reference to non-limitativeembodiments:

FIGURES 1 and 2 are longitudinal cross-sectional views of an embodimentof the invention comprising a magnet adjustable on a lever and lying ona keeper;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an embodiment of theinvention comprising a magnet adjustable on a threaded screw andsupporting a slide bar;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an embodiment of theinvention comprising a magnet resting on a movable slotted keeper;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an embodiment of theinvention comprising a magnet resting on a partly magnetic keeper;

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 are plan views of the devices illustrated in FIGURES4 and 5;

FIGURES 9, 10, 11 and 12 are longitudinal cross-sectional views of otherembodiments of the device according to the invention;

FIGURE 13 is a cross-sectional view of an adjustable device according tothe invention, acting by variation of the magnetic flux;

FIGURE 14 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view according to lineXIV--XIV of FIGURE 15;

FIGURE 15 is a lateral cross-sectional view according to line XVXV ofFIGURE 14;

FIGURE 16 is a front view in longitudinal crosssection of an adjustingdevice with compression spring having an additional action;

FIGURE 17 is a front view in longitudinal cross-section of an adjustingdevice with compression spring having a differential action;

FIGURE 18 is a front view in longitudinal cross-section of an adjustingdevice with tension spring giving an additional action;

FIGURE 19 is a frontal view in longitudinal cross-section of anadjusting device with a traction spring having a differential action;

FIGURE 20 is a front view in longitudinal cross-section of an adjustingdevice with differential action according to still another embodiment ofthe invention.

In FIGURE 1, the magnet 1 slides on the lever 2, the end 4 of which isconnected directly or not to the jaw holding the boot of the user. Themagnet lies on a keeper 3 solid with ski 5. The magnet is limited inadjustment by the abutment 6 and can be locked by the screw 7.

In FIGURE 2, the magnet 11 is held locked on the casing 12 by a clampingscrew 13 extending across an elongated slot 14 allowing adjustmentthereof, the said magnet lying over a keeper 15 as an extension of lever16.

In FIGURE 3, the magnet 21 slides on slide-bars 22 solid with ski 5 byrotation of the operating screw 23', the keeper 24 being an extension ofthe lever 25.

In FIGURE 4, the magnet 31 is solid with the lever 32 and rests on akeeper 33 having a slot 34 and a nut 35 which, during operation of thescrew 37, allows the said keeper 32 to slide longitudinally on thesliding members 36 solid with the ski 5 and to more or less locate thesaid slot beneath the magnet thus ensuring, through variation in thebearing surfaces in contact, the adjustment of the holding torque of thedevice.

In FIGURE 5, the magnet 41 which is fast with the lever 42 rests on amovable keeper made up of two parts one of which 43 is magnetic and theother 44 is permeable to the flux of the said magnet.

These two parts are joined by a nut 45 which, through rotation of thescrew 46, longitudinally displaces the said keeper on the slide members47 to more or less vary the amount of non-magnetic surface covered bythe said magnet and, thus, the adjustment of the holding torque of thedevice by variation in the resistance of the magnetic circuit.

In FIGURE 6 are illustrated the shape of the keeper 33 and, in dottedlines, the extreme positions taken by the magnet; position 51 where thebearing surface between the latter and the keeper is nil and,consequently, the force of the latter is also nil, position allowingeasy deharnessing of the boot; position 52 where the bearing surfacebetween the keeper and the magnet is complete and, consequently, theforce of attraction of the latter is maximum.

In FIGURE 7 are also illustrated the positions 61 and 62 of the magnet,positions corresponding to the nonmagnetic and magnetic bearing surfaces43 and 44 of the keeper allowing, by longitudinal sliding of the saidkeeper, variation in the holding torque of the device going from amaximum to zero.

FIGURE 8 illustrates the two extreme positions 71 and 72 of the magneton the non-magnetic and magnetic portions 73 and 74 defining an obliquejoint that permits a more accurate adjustment of the mechanism.

In FIGURE 9, the magnet is made up of two polar masses 81, 82 in contactwith the keeper 83 solid or fast with the lever 84 and the magneticcircuit of which is closed by a movable counter-plate 85 the magneticportion of which during sliding over slide-members 86 through rotationof the operating screw 87 through nut 88 gives more or less resistanceto the magnetic circuit of the mechanism and, consequently, adjusts theholding torque of the latter.

In FIGURE 10, the magnet 91 slides on the lever 92, a locking screw 93holding it in position on the latter. The said magnet rests on a secondmagnet 94 secured on the ski and acting as a keeper.

In FIGURE 11, the magnet 101 which slides on the lever 102 is held onthe latter by the abutment 103 the end 104 of which is fast directly orindirectly to the jaw receiving the boot of the skier. This magnet whichis retained in position by the screw 105 rests on a second magnet 106sliding on the slide members 107 solid with ski 5 through rotation ofthe operating screw 108. This latter device allows two types ofadjustment.

In FIGURE 12, the keeper 131 is solid or fast with lever 132 resting onmagnet 133 through the sliding plate 134 the magnetic portions 136 and137 of which more or less decrease the sections of magnetic flux flow ofthe said magnet according to the movement of the plate 134 in thedirection of arrow 138. A non-magnetic portion 139 separates the saidcounter-plate 134 into two poles in order to avoid short-circuiting ofthe magnetic flux of the said magnet.

In FIGURE 13, the magnetic flux flowing through magnet 111 according toarrow 112 must fiow through the rotating pin 113 having non-magneticportions 114 and 115 which, during rotation thereof according to arrow116 of said pin, allows the variation from maximum to zero of the fluxflowing through the said magnet. A quarter of a turn of the said pin issufficient to provide all of the adjustments.

In FIGURE 14, the magnet 121 that receives the keeper 122 is formed withtwo sliding grooves 123 provided on two poles 124 and 125, the saidgroove receiving a plate 126 covered at the upper surface thereof with anonmagnetic sheath 127. Plate 126 is introduced according to arrow 128between the two poles of the said magnet, the latter plate more or lessshort-circuiting the magnetic circuit of the magnet depending on howmuch it has been moved along the grooves 123.

FIGURE illustrates the sliding grooves 123 provided on the two poles 124and 125 of the said magnet and the arrangement of the non-magneticsheath 127 that prevents the said plate from communicating to the keeperthe magnetic flux that it absorbs.

In FIGURE 16, the jaw 1-61 transmits the abnormal thrusts to the beak162 of a lever 163 fast with the keeper 164. The latter can only moveaway from the magnet 165 if the thrust that it receives is sufficient toovercome the strength of a compression spring 166 located in a casing167 of the lever 163 and the compression of which is adjustable by thescrew 168 of the casing 169.

In FIGURE 17, the abnormal stresses transmitted by levers 172 and 173 tothe keeper 171 tend to separate the said breech from the magnet 174,this separation being more or less facilitated by the action of acompression spring 175 bearing, on the one hand, in a housing 176 of thelever 173 and, on the other hand, in a threaded sleeve 177 threaded onthe casing 178 fast with the ski 179. The sleeve ensures the adjustmentof the device.

In FIGURE 18, the levers 181 and 182 transmit to the keeper 183 theabnormal stresses which tend to separate the latter from the magnet 184.This separation is more or less counteracted by a tension spring 185,the riveted end 187 of which pivots on a lug 186 of the lever 182 andthe opposite end of which is secured to a screw 188 mounted on thecasing 189 to ensure adjustment of the releasing torque of the device.

In FIGURE 19, the lever 191 transmits the abnormal thrusts to lever 192which tends to separate the keeper 193 with which it is solid, frommagnet 194. This separation is facilitated by a tension spring 195pivotally mounted on the end 196 of the lever 192 and secured on a screw199 mounted on the casing 198. The latter screw ensures adjustment ofthe holding torque of the device.

In FIGURE 20, a spring 201 tends to separate the keeper 203 from themagnet 202. The action of spring 201 is adjustable by the operatingscrew 204 causing displacement of a nut 205 slidable over slide members206 of a casing 207. One end of the said spring 201 is fixed to the saidnut while the opposite end is held, not by the magnet, the breech or thecasing, but on a cam 208 solid with the lever 209 supporting the jawthat holds the boot on the ski 210.

Many changes can be made to the shape, color, dimensions and proportionsof the various component parts of the present invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, the said parts susceptible of beingobtained in various materials or combinations of materials capable ofwithstanding any treatments.

Besides, the various adjusting systems, above described, can be usedeither alone or simultaneously, on all attachments, on all skis and becombined with other adjustment devices, flexibility or safety deviceswithout for that being outside the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. In a device for the adjustment of the safety opening of a magneticattachment for ski, the combination comprising:

(a) a magnet member;

(b) a magnetizable keeper member mounted on the ski;

(c) a boot attachment including an operating jaw movable for releasingsaid boot from said attachment upon said boot being subjected to a forceof a predetermined magnitude, the said jaw having a projecting lever onwhich said magnet member is secured; (d) means mounting one of saidmembers on said ski and further means mounting the other member on saidjaw whereby said members may be separated upon application on said jawof a force greater than a said predetermined magnitude; and

(e) means to adjust the relative overlap position of said members toadjust the force therebetween resisting said predetermined force, thesaid adjusting means comprises means to slidably displace said keepermember on said ski relative to said magnet member and means defining onsaid keeper member magnetic and non-magnetic areas.

2. In a device for the adjustment of the safety opening of a mageticattachment for ski, the combination comprising:

(a) a magnet member fixed to said ski;

(b) a magnetizable keeper member consisting of a pivotable leverprojecting from a jaw and movable to and from said ski;

(c) a boot attachment including said jaw movable for releasing said bootfrom said attachment upon said boot being subjected to a force of apredetermined magnitude;

(d) means mounting one of said members on said ski and further meansmounting the other member on said jaw whereby said members may beseparated upon application on said jaw of a force greater than saidpredetermined magnitude; and

(e) means to adjust the relative overlap position of said members toadjust the force therebetween resisting said predetermined force, thesaid adjusting means consisting of a plate having portions of magneticmaterial and portions of non-magnetic material slidably displaceablebetween said magnet member and said keeper member.

3. In a device for the adjustment of the safety opening of a magneticattachment for ski, the combination comprising:

(a) a magnet member fixed to said ski;

(b) a magnetizable keeper member consisting of a pivotable leverprojecting from an operating jaw and movable to and from said magnetmember;

(c) a boot attachment including said jaw movable for releasing said bootfrom said attachment upon said boot being subjected to a force of apredetermined magnitude;

(d) means mounting one of said members on said ski and further meansmounting the other member on said jaw whereby said members may beseparated. upon application on said jaw of :a force greater than saidpredetermined magnitude; and

(e) means to adjust the relative overlap position of said members toadjust the force therebetween resisting said predetermined force, thesaid adjusting means consisting of a precompressed adjustable springbiasing said keeper member against said magnet memher.

4. In a device for the adjustment of the safety opening of a magneticattachment for ski, the combination comprising:

(a) a magnet member fixed to the ski;

(b) a magnetizable keeper member consisting of a pivotable leverprojecting from an operating jaw and movable to and from said magnetmember;

(c) a boot attachment including the said operating jaw upon said bootbeing subjected to a force of a predetermined magnitude;

(d) means mounting one of said members on said ski and further meansmounting the other member on said jaw whereby said members may beseparated upon application on said jaw of a force greater than saidpredetermined magnitude; and

(e) means to adjust the relative overlap position of said members toadjust the force therebetween re- SiSting said predetermined force, thesaid adjusting means consisting of a pretensioned adjustable springbiasing said keeper member away from said magnet member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,276,826 3/ 1942 Crowther.3,165,328 1/1965 Malone. 3,246,907 4/ 1966 Chisholm. 3,251,607 5/1966Wren.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,387,319 12/1964 France.

LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner.

movable for releasing said boot from said attachment MILTON SMITH,Assistant Examine"-

